tie up

Definition of tie up

transitive verb

1: to attach, fasten, or bind securely; also: to wrap up and fasten

2a: to connect closely :jointie up the loose endsb: to cause to be linked so as to depend on or relate to something

3a: to place or invest in such a manner as to make unavailable for other purposes their money was tied up in stocksb: to restrain from normal movement, operation, or progress traffic was tied up for miles

4a: to keep busy was tied up in conference all dayb: to preempt the use of tied up the phone for an hour